Chasing a dream ... Jonathan Maher is on the verge of winning the largest ever cash payout from an Australian TV gameshow on Million Dollar Minute, inspired by his 93-year-old war hero granddad, Hedley Hatch. Picture: Nathan Dyer

THIS contestant on Million Dollar Minute first rejected $200,000 and delayed a trip with his wife to Europe.

Now he’s turned down $300,000 and walked off the set buy a pastie and a $850 bottle of Grange for good luck.

Jonathan Maher, 36, from Melbourne, is competing for a record jackpot on the Channel Seven game show of more than $500,000.

The Melbourne lawyer walked off set and purchased a pastie and one of the world’s most expensive wines tonight.

After finishing the pastie, Mr Maher, 36, went to his local bottle shop and picked up a bottle of 2002 Penfolds Grange for $850 after turning down the chance to walk away with more than $300,000.

Mr Maher, who admits he is no wine coinosseur, will tomorrow play for a place in Australian quiz show history by competing for more than $500,000.

Happy with his Grange ... Jonathan Maher.Source:Channel 7

He plans to drink his bottle of plonk if he wins.

“I saw this wine bottle locked in a dusty cabinet inside the store and the attendant said it had been in there for years. The manager had to be called in to find the key to unlock it,” Mr Maher laughed.